God does not have formulas, God is not a fortune teller or psychic. God is not a genie to rub a lamp for a wish, God does not have shortcuts!
God is patient and wants to teach us the lessons of life through patience and prayer. Whenever God wants to stretch us in our walk with Him, it seems like everything appears to go wrong for us. The obstacles in our lives are not to be dodged, but to face them head on, but not by ourselves. The Lord promises to bring us through the trial or situation. Daniel faced the lions in the lions den. The three Hebrew young men were thrown into the fiery furnace by King Nebuchadnezzar for not bowing down to him. What a sight when the king saw a fourth man walking with them in the fire 🔥
“Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “ Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good!
But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here. ” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.
Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!
Daniel 3:14-28 NKJV
How great and powerful is the Lord when we trust Him as He keeps His promises!
One of the most misquoted verses and taken out of context verses is in the book of Jeremiah:
This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord . “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord . “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”
Jeremiah 29:10-14 NLT
Notice, that God allowed Israel to stay captive for 70 years. He allowed them to be captured and taken into exile under king Nebuchadnezzar. God promises to bring them back home again out of Babylon. God offers them hope and a future. Here’s the key God gave them a promise, but He said it will not be easy. “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me”. V.13
Have you ever lost something like your car keys or wallet, purse? You have to leave but can’t because you need what you lost before you leave. The word ‘LOOK‘ means to search diligently with everything you’ve got. You become desperate and search with all your heart soul, mind, and strength. This is how God the Father wants us to seek Him. Not in a lazy or I will get to it later type of attitude. Does God have a purpose and a plan for you and this nation? Absolutely. He wants what is best for us, but it may not always be easy.
Patience and waiting is never easy, but well worth it especially when God promises you an answer.
Whatever you are facing and your back is against the wall my friend, trust God for His promise to do the impossible for your life.
‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’
Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV
Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
Hebrews 10:36 NLT
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12 NIV
The Watering Hole Journey 